PSYCHOLOGICAL DYNAMIC OF FEMALE CHARACTERS TOWARD …digilib.uinsby.ac.id/28316/3/Kun Mar'atul...

PSYCHOLOGICAL DYNAMIC OF FEMALE CHARACTERSTOWARD MARRIAGE PROBLEM IN PAULA HAWKINS’

THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN

THESIS

Submitted as a Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the BachelorDegree of English Department Faculty of Arts and Humanities

State Islamic University of Sunan Ampel Surabaya

By:

Kun Mar’atul FauziahReg. Number: A73214085

ENGLISH DEPARTMENTFACULTY OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES

STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY OF SUNAN AMPEL SURABAYA2018

digilib.uinsby.ac.id digilib.uinsby.ac.id digilib.uinsby.ac.id digilib.uinsby.ac.id digilib.uinsby.ac.id digilib.uinsby.ac.id digilib.uinsby.ac.id

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Inside Cover Page..............................................................................................i

Declaration.........................................................................................................ii

Approval Sheet ..................................................................................................iii

Examiner Sheet .................................................................................................iv

Motto ..................................................................................................................v

Dedication ..........................................................................................................vi

Acknowledgement ............................................................................................vii

Table of contents ...............................................................................................ix

Abstract..............................................................................................................xi

Intisari ................................................................................................................xii

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study...............................................................................1

1.2 Statements of Problem ..................................................................................5

1.3 Objectives of the Study .................................................................................5

1.4 Significance of the Study ..............................................................................5

1.5 Scope and Limitation ....................................................................................5

1.6 Methods of the Study ....................................................................................6

1.6.1 Research Design....................................................................................6

1.6.2 Data Source ..........................................................................................6

1.6.3 Data Collection .....................................................................................6

1.6.4 Data Analysis ........................................................................................7

CHAPTER II REVIEW OF LITERATURE

2.1 Theoritical Framework.................................................................................8

2.1.1 New Criticism .......................................................................................8

2.1.1.1 Character ...................................................................................10


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2.1.1.2 Characterization ........................................................................11

2.1.2 Psychodynamic ..............................................................................12

2.1.3 Review of Previous Study .............................................................14

CHAPTER III PSYCHOLOGICAL DYNAMICS OF WOMAN

CHARACTERS IN THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN NOVEL

3.1 Woman Characters in The Girl on the Train............................................17

3.1.1 Rachel’s characterization..................................................................17

3.1.1.1 Grateful .....................................................................................17

3.1.1.2 Imaginative ...............................................................................19

3.1.1.3 Obsessive ..................................................................................22

3.1.1.4 Jealous ......................................................................................24

3.1.1.5 Insecure ....................................................................................26

3.1.1.4 Depressed..................................................................................27

3.1.1.5 Slovenly ....................................................................................29

3.1.2 Anna’s Characterization ...................................................................30

3.1.2.1 Selfish .......................................................................................30

3.1.2.2 Grateful ....................................................................................31

3.1.2.3 Suspicious .................................................................................33

3.1.3 Megan’s Characterization .................................................................35

3.1.3.1 Unfaithful ..................................................................................35

3.1.3.3 Honest .......................................................................................36

3.2 Psychodynamic.........................................................................................38

3.2.1 Rachel ..........................................................................................39

3.2.2 Anna.............................................................................................46

3.2.3 Megan ..........................................................................................52

CHAPTER IV ...............................................................................................58

CONCLUSION.....................................................................................58

WORK CITED .............................................................................................60

CONSULTATION CARD...........................................................................63


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ABSTRACT

Fauziah, Kun Mar’atul. 2018. Psychological Dynamic of Female Characterstoward Marriage Problem in Paula Hawkins’ The Girl on the Train. Thesis.English Department Faculty of Adab and Humanities. State IslamicUniversity Sunan Ampel Surabaya.

Advisor: Dr. Wahju Kusumajanti, M.Hum.

This research analyzes about woman characters in The Girl on the Train novel byPaula Hawkins. It focuses on the characterization of each character and theirpsychological condition when they faced problem in marriage. New criticism isapplied to describe the characterization and psychodynamic is used to reveal thepsychological condition of each character. The result of this study shows thechange of characterization in each character based on problem that happened tothem. (1) Rachel is described as a grateful and imaginative woman but after shegets the problem of marriage her character changes into insecure, depressed,jealous, obsessive and slovenly. (2) Anna is described as selfish but also a gratefulcharacter then after she has the marriage problem she changes to be a suspicious.(3) Megan is described as unfaithful then she changes into honest character aftershe gets the marriage problem.

Keywords: character changes, psychological dynamic


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INTISARI

Fauziah, Kun Mar’atul. 2018. Psychological Dynamic of Female Characterstoward Marriage Problem in Paula Hawkins’ The Girl on the Train. Skripsi.Sastra Inggris. Fakultas Adab dan Humaniora. Universitas Islam NegeriSunan Ampel Surabaya.

Pembimbing: Dr. Wahju Kusumajanti, M.Hum.

Penelitian ini menganalisa tentang karakter-karakter wanita dalam novel The Girlon the Train oleh Paula Hawkins. Penelitian ini fokus pada penokohan setiapkarakter dan kondisi psikologi mereka ketika mereka menghadapi permasalahandalam pernikahan. New criticism diterapkan untuk mendeskripsikan penokohandan psychodynamic digunakan untuk mengungkap kondisi psikologi dari setiapkarakter. Hasil dari penelitian ini menunjukkan perubahan penokohan padamasing-maasing karakter berdasarkan masalah yang terjadi pada mereka. (1)Rachel di deskripsikan sebagai wanita yang suka bersyukur dan imajinatif tapisetelah dia mengalami masalah dalam pernikahan karakternya berubah menjaditidak percaya diri, depresi, cemburu, obsesif, dan penampilannya menjadiberantakan. (2) Anna di deskripsikan sebagai karakter yang egois dan sukabersyukur lalu setelah dia mengalami masalah dalam pernikahan dia berubahmenjadi karakter yang suka curiga. (3) Megan di deskripsikan sebagai karakteryang tidak setia lalu dia berubah menjadi karakter yang jujur setelah diamengalami masalah dalam pernikahan.

Kata kunci: perubahan karakter, dinamika psikologi


F a u z i a h | 1

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

1.1. Background of Study

“Marriage is the process by which a man becomes a husband and a

woman becomes a wife.” (Dunlap 55). It refers to symbolize of relationship

that consist man and woman who has a commitment to life together. As stated

by Reyner, a commitment will have important emotional and psychological

dimensions as well as evident legal, social, and economic ones (151).

According to the psychology dictionary, the definition of marriage is a

social construct or convention where two people willingly enter into either a

religious or civil styled and yet legal contract to become husband and wife

(https://psychologydictionary.org/marriage/).

Weis and Heyman (qtd in Fincham) stated that research on marriage has

focused on what spouses do when they disagree with each other, and reviews

of marital interaction are dominated by studies of conflict and problem

solving (2). There is nothing in this world without problem. In marriage there

is also a problem because it consists of two kinds of human who still have

different characterization. Reyner stated that marriages break down because

of matters like conflict, infidelity, betrayal, isolation, emptiness, violence and

the loss of a sense of self, or of sharing something in common personal

explanations rather than public causes (155).


F a u z i a h | 2

Bruce (qtd in Heejong and Nadine) said that person in a high-conflict

marriage might be more likely to engage in unhealthy behavior such as

smoking, drinking and less likely to receive the benefits of benevolent social

control, for example encourage by their partner to exercise and engage in

preventive medical care because their spouses might refrain from exercising

social control to avoid more conflict. (2). It means that the conflict in

marriage can persuade someone behavior.

According to Terry most of the literary theory also tends to view the

literary work as a 'reflection' or ‘expression’ of reality. It embodies human

experience, or enacts an author's intention or it reproduces the structures of

the human mind. (Eagleton 157). Psychological experience is one of many

themes in literary work, beside the society, economy, politic, and religion.

Psychology and literature have a bilateral relation. Literature refers to human

experience and creative imagination. According to Dastmard relation between

literature and psychology is bilateral relation. Human’s soul makes the

literature and literature nourishes human’s soul. Literature and psychology

both, pay attention to fancy, thinks, feeling sensations and soul psychical

issues. (1)

As stated by Dani and Mohen, the world that presented and represented

in literature is adopted from the writer’s experience of a social and historical

reality (276). Some of the authors write a novel in the form of psychological

experience. One of the authors who wrote the novel as the representation

psychological experience is Paula Hawkins. Paula writes The Girl on the


F a u z i a h | 3

Train and published the novel in 2015. The novel tells about a girl who rides

the commuter train in every morning. The character named Rachel. She

imagines about another people life outside the train. She has a terrible life.

The title of the novel is inspired by Paula’s experience. As stated in writing.ie

when she was interviewed as special guest, she said:

“A book for me is a confluence of ideas and emotions, and this onestarted when I first moved to London, where I felt uprooted and lonely,and I loved, on my daily commute, to look into other people’s houses. Iloved to imagine their lives, or to wish myself into their situation, towonder, who would I be if I lived there?”(https://www.writing.ie/interviews/finfing-inspiration-the-girl-on-the-train-by-paula-hawkins/)

From the quotation above, it shows that The Girl on the Train is written

from the own experience of the author. Paula Hawkins worked as a journalist

for fifteen years before turning her hand to fiction. Born and brought up in

Zimbabwe, Paula moved into London in 1989 and has lived there ever since.

The Girl on the Train is her first thriller.

The Girl on the Train is formed in three perspectives of woman; they

are Rachel, Anna, and Megan. It tells about a woman named Rachel who

married to Tom. They do not have a child and it causes Rachel depressed. She

becomes alcoholic and lonely. Then Tom divorces her because he has affair

with Anna. After that Tom married to Anna and they get a child named Evie.

They live happily until Anna catches up Tom has affair with Megan.

The novel’s genre is psychological thriller that shows conflict in

relationship especially in marriage. It describes problem that often happens in


F a u z i a h | 4

the real world and illustrate the psychological condition of someone

especially woman when she faces problem in relationship. The change of

woman’s characters happens in different way and it caused by one man. For

this reason the researcher chooses the novel as the object of the research.

In this study, the researcher focuses on each woman character in the

novel. She is applying psychodynamics approach to analyze each woman

psychological condition and new criticism to describe the characterization of

woman characters in The Girl on the Train novel.

1.2. Statement of Problem

1) What are the problems that happen to women’s characters in The Girl

on the Train novel?

2) How does the effect of the problems towards the women’s

personality?

1.3. Objective of the Study

1) To describe the problems that happens to women’s characters in The

Girl on the Train novel?

2) To explain the effect of the problems towards the women’s

personality


F a u z i a h | 5

1.4. Significance of the Study

The result of the study is expected to give further information about the

relation between psychology and literature especially in psychodynamic and

how it happens to women characterizations before and after they get the

problems in The Girl on the Train novel. For the academic readers, hopefully

it will be useful as information, reference or evaluation for the next

researcher. While for the common reader, they can take the values and

become aware while facing problems in relationship because the case which

is shown in the novel commonly happened.

1.5. Scope and Limitation

The scope of this study is on the women characters and their problems

in The Girl on the Train novel which are Rachel, Anna and Megan.

Meanwhile the limitation is discussing the psychological dynamic of each

woman characters which caused by their problem.

1.6. Method of the Study

In this part, the researcher discusses how the study is conducted. It

involves four sub chapters which consist of research design, data sources,

data collection and data analysis.

1.6.1.Research design

In conducting this study, the researcher applies descriptive qualitative

research by explaining the result of technique of reading, identifying,


F a u z i a h | 6

analyzing data. According to Fraenkel and Norman, the descriptive

qualitative method aims to identify and provide a picture of an event,

condition, or situation by using data in the form of words rather that numbers

(105). Therefore, this analysis uses qualitative method because it analyzes the

condition of someone’s psychology in the descriptive way.

1.6.2. Data Source

There are two sources of data, primary and secondary source. The

writer used The Girl on the Train novel that is written by Paula Hawkins as

the primary source, and books, journals, articles and online sources which

related to the issue of this research as the secondary source.

1.6.3.Data Collection

In collecting the data, the researcher uses following steps:

1) Reading the novel carefully three times to get the whole understanding

of the novel

2) Highlighting some relevant quotations dealing with the characterization

and data that shows the dynamic of their psychology condition. The

quotations are in the form of phrases, sentences and dialogues.

3) Selecting the related references from the secondary data as like the

theory and other information to support the main data to analyze.


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1.6.4.Data Analysis

1) The researcher quotes and explains the characterization of woman

characters using new criticism theory in Paula Hawkins The Girl on the

Train.

2) The researcher quotes and explains the dynamics of psychology of each

woman character in Paula Hawkins The Girl on the Train.

3) Last, the researcher draws the conclusion based on the result of the

analysis.


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CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

2.1 Theoretical Framework

This chapter discusses about the theories that are used to analyze the

novel. The researcher focuses on the psychology condition of each woman

character in The Girl on the Train novel using psychodynamic theory. Meanwhile,

new criticism is applied to analyze the characterization of each character. In

addition, this chapter also discusses some previous studies to see the differences

between these current researcher and previous studies.

2.1.1 New Criticism

American New Criticism, emerging in the 1920s and especially dominant

in the 1940s and 1950s, is equivalent to the establishing of the new professional

criticism in the emerging discipline of ‘English’ in British higher education during

the inter-war period (Selden 18). In the beginning in the 1960s, a number of

theoretical perspectives and discourses – phenomenology, linguistics,

psychoanalysis, Marxism, structuralism, feminism, deconstruction – offered richer

conceptual frameworks than did the New Criticism for reflecting on literature and

other cultural products (Culler 122).

According to Raman Selden, new criticism is clearly characterized in

practice and premise, and it is not concerned with context – historical,

biographical, and intellectual and so on, it is concerned solely with the ‘text in

itself’, with its language and organization. It does not seek a text’s ‘meaning’, but


F a u z i a h | 9

how it ‘speaks itself’ (Selden et al 19). “The text itself” became the New Critical

effort to focus our attention on the literary work as the sole source of evidence for

interpreting it. Sometimes it is even more meaningful, rich, and complex than the

author realized. And sometimes the text’s meaning is simply different from the

meaning the author wanted it to have (Tyson 136). New criticism does not seek a

text’s ‘meaning’, but how it ‘speaks itself’. It is concerned to trace how the parts

of the text relate, how it achieves its ‘order’ and ‘harmony’, how it contains and

resolves ‘irony’, ‘paradox’, ‘tension’, ‘ambivalence’ and ‘ambiguity’. (Selden et

al 19). Therefore, in new criticism doesn’t need to explain the context. It only

concerns with the “the text itself”.

Tyson also stated that new critics believed that a single best, or most

accurate, interpretation of each text could be discovered that best represents the

text itself: that best explains what the text means and how the text produces that

meaning, in other words, that best explains its organic unity (148).

Literary works has two element, they are intrinsic and extrinsic element.

According to Wellek and Warren, intrinsic element is “the interpretation and

analysis of the works of literature themselves” (139). It means that elements of

literary works which build up the literary works itself. Intrinsic element includes

plot, setting, theme, point of view, character and characterization. Therefore in

this research will give explanations about the character and characterization

element. Due to the focus of this study is on the woman characters in the novel.


F a u z i a h | 10

2.1.1.1 Character

Characters are the life of literature: they are the objects of our curiosity

and fascination, affection and dislike, admiration and condemnation (Bennet and

Royle 60). Characters are the persons represented in a dramatic or narrative work,

who are interpreted by the reader as being endowed with particular moral,

intellectual, and emotional qualities by inferences from what the persons say and

their distinctive ways of the dialogue and from the action (Abram 30)

Indeed, so intense is our relationship with literary characters that they

often cease to be simply ‘objects’. The novels and plays we respond to most

strongly almost invariably have forceful characters as well as an intriguing plot.

Our memory of a particular novel or play often depends as much on our sense of a

particular character as on the ingenuities of the plot (Bennet and Royle 60)

Typical of characters classified as two, flat and round. A typified character

in literature is dominated by one specific trait and is referred to as a flat character.

The term round character usually denotes a persona with more complex and

differentiated features (Klaler 19). Forster said that flat character is built around "a

single idea or quality" and is presented without much individualizing detail, and

therefore can be fairly adequately described in a single phrase or sentence (67). A

round character is complex in temperament and motivation and is represented

with subtle particularity; such a character therefore is as difficult to describe with

any adequacy as a person in real life, and like real persons, is capable of

surprising us (Abram 33)


F a u z i a h | 11

It can be concluded that character is the representation of object in the

story that did the action. There are two kinds of character, flat character and round

character.

2.1.1.2 Characterization

Characterization is the way author describe the characters. According to

Holman, characterization is the creation of imaginary persons so that they exist

for the reader as real within the limits of the fiction. The author reveals aspects of

the character; in the biography and the history. The ability to characterize the

people of one's imagination successfully is a primary attribute of a good novelist,

dramatist, or short-story writer (85).

Holman states that there are three fundamental methods of characterization

in fiction. First, the explicit presentation by the author of the character through

direct exposition, either than in an introductory block or more often piecemeal

throughout the work, illustrated by action. The second is presentation of the

character in action with little or no explicit comment by the author, in the

expectation that the reader will be able to deduce the attributes of the actor from

the actions, and the third is representation from within a character, without

comment on the character by the author of the impact of actions and emotions

upon the character’s inner self, with the expectation that the reader will come to

clear understanding of the attributes of the character (75).

Overall, the characterization of characters can be revealed from the

actions, thought, reaction and attitude among the characters. In this case, character


F a u z i a h | 12

and characterization is used to analyze the woman characters in The Girl on the

Train novel.

2.1.2 Psychodynamics

Author creates a character with different characterization. Each character

has a different way to show their behavior and emotions. These things can be

analyzed using psychodynamic theory.

The term dynamics defines that part of psychology that deals with drives,

at the treatment level, and with motivations, at theoretical level. The dynamic

concept of psychology postulates the principle that psychic functioning is a play

of forces, sometimes synergetic but more frequently in reciprocal contrast that is a

play of tendencies typical of the inner self of individuals and simultaneously of

the social context to which they belong (Ancona 1).

According to Sigmund Freud, psychodynamic are the structure of

consciousness, and the nature of the drives that motivate behavior (233). Langley

states that psychodynamic is approach to human experience, in attributing

importance to emotions and the influence of the unconscious as well as to

thinking (3).

According to Hirshhorn, by drawing on object-relations theory, which

highlights how people use one another to stabilize their inner lives, we can

understand how psychodynamic processes within people help shape the

relationships between them (3-4). Ultimately, the goal of all psychological

theories, psychodynamic or otherwise, is to account for actual behavior; in that

sense, it is inevitable that there should be agreement on some aspects. At the same


F a u z i a h | 13

time, psychodynamic theories are challenged by the necessity of inferring

processes from observed behavior. This process of inference makes it likely that

different observers will create their own distinct organizing structures, which

helps to explain the wide variety of conceptual structures found in psychodynamic

theories. Seen this way, the theories represent different ways of viewing the same

thing; as one analyst put it. Thus, one is left with the sense that psychodynamic

models are like cognitive schemata – each is shaped by the experiences and

cultural background of the person who developed it. (Glassman 272). Our

behavior and feelings are powerfully affected by unconscious motives: The

unconscious mind comprises mental processes that are inaccessible to

consciousness but that influence judgments, feelings, or behavior (Wilson 23).

To sum up, psychological dynamics refers to human behavior that

influenced by conflicts and experiences that happen to them. While the dynamic

can lead them to better way or to the worst condition. Related to this study the

researcher used psychodynamic theory to analyze the psychological dynamic that

happened to woman characters in The Girl on the Train novel.

2.1.3 Review of Previous Studies

In the review literature, the researcher uses previous studies as the basis of

this research to know what the lack from previous studies is, and how this study

does:

First is a study to Atun Farkhatun entitled Anxiety and Defense Mechanism

of Rachel Waston in Paula Hawkins ’ Novel the Girl on the Train (2017) from

UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogjakarta. In this thesis, the researcher focused on type and


F a u z i a h | 14

factor of anxiety that used by Rachel and explained the defense mechanism as her

strategy to reduce her anxiety. This thesis applied psychoanalysis theory by

Sigmund Freud. From the analysis, it can be concluded that Rachel suffers all the

type of anxiety; neurotic, moral, and realistic anxiety. To cope Rachel’s anxious

feeling, Rachel uses six defense mechanisms. They are repression, displacement,

fixation, projection, rationalization, and denial.

Second, the thesis entitled Megan’s Trauma in Paula Hawkins’ The Girl

on the Train by Fitria Febriani (2018) UIN Sunan Ampel Surabaya. This thesis

purposed to analyze Megan’s trauma and the way she deals with it. Megan’s

trauma is analyzed based on the symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

(PTSD). Then the finding shows the symptoms that happened to Megan and her

action to deal with her trauma.

The third, the researcher takes a previous study from Universitas

Muhammadiyah Surakarta that written by Putri Utami entitled Love Affair

Reflected in Paula Hawkins The Girl on The Train (2015): Psychoanalytic Study.

This thesis used psychoanalytic study. The writer focused on how the id, ego and

superego of the three main characters and reveals the love affair reflected in The

Girl on the Train novel. The finding of the novel shows that the id of each woman

character is more dominant than her superego and ego, and explains the case and

impact of the affairs.

The last previous study entitled Psychodynamics of Anxiety in

Organization by Cathy Langley (2014) Auckland University of Technology. This

dissertation purposed to do a primary inquiry, and bring a business perspective to


F a u z i a h | 15

the integration between business and psychodynamics proposed by the literature.

It consider the business-oriented views that connected with safety, emotion, and

learning and also explore the recently-proposed alternative to such integration that

questions the positivist assumption that an ideal world is one in which can predict

and control what happens. The finding of this research shows the contrast between

business and psychodynamic perspectives creates the obstacles to the integration,

and suggestion for bridging the gap.

From the previous study above, this research has similarities and

differences in some aspects. The similarity of this research and three references

above is used same object which is The Girl on the Train novel. The differences

are in the first and second thesis, the researcher only focus on one character while

in this research the researcher focus on each woman characters from the novel.

Whereas in the third previous study has two similarities from the novel and also

the focus of characters. The different is the focus. The third study is focused on

the id, ego and superego of the women characters and reveal the case and impact

of affairs that happen there while this research analyze the characterization of

each woman characters and explain their character change using psychodynamic

theory. In the last previous study, it has a similarity in the using of psychodynamic

but different focus. The previous study focused on the application of

psychodynamic in analyzed the anxiety that happened in the organization whereas

in this research, the researcher used psychodynamic to analyze the condition of

women characters while they faced problems in their marriage.


F a u z i a h | 17

CHAPTER III

Psychological Dynamic of Female Characters toward Marriage Problem in

Paula Hawkins’ The Girl on the Train

In this chapter, the writer analyzes about the psychological dynamic of

women characters in The Girl on the Train novel. This chapter is divided into two

sections. The first discussion is about the character of each woman in The Girl on

The Train novel. The second discussion explains about the psychological dynamic

that happens to woman characters The Girl on the Train novel.

3.1 Woman Characters in The Girl on The Train

In this part, the writer explains about the woman characters, they are

Rachel, Anna and Megan in The Girl on the Train novel.

3.1.1 Rachel’s Characterization

Rachel Watson is the main character of The Girl on the Train novel. She

worked in a public relation firm. Rachel had a husband named Tom Watson, but

their marriage did not last long. From their marriage, they did not have any child.

They divorced because Rachel was unstable and Tom was having affair. Since

they divorced, Rachel’s life became messed.

The data that have been collected on Rachel’s characterization shows that

Rachel is:

3.1.1.1 Grateful

McCullough et al (quoted in Algoe and Zhaoyang) states that grateful is a

positive emotion that may arise when one person provides a benefit to another


F a u z i a h | 18

(2).This could happen when someone does us a favor, say something nice, or

simply offers a random act kindness.

Rachel married to Tom made a blissfully happiness for her. As shows in

the quotation below:

“Not when I met Tom, who saved me from grief, after Dad died.Not when we married, carefree, drenched in bliss, on an oddlywintry May day seven years ago. I was happy, solvent, successful.Not when we moved into number twenty-three, a roomier, lovelierhouse than I’d imagined I’d live in at the tender age of twenty-six.I remember those first days so clearly, walking around, shoeless,feeling the warmth of wooden floorboards underfoot, relishing thespace, the emptiness of all those rooms waiting to be filled. Tomand I, making plans: what we’d plant in the garden, what we’dhang on the walls, what color to paint the spare room – already,even then, in my head, the baby’s room.” (Hawkins 77)

Tom’s coming made a difference in her life. He saved Rachel from sorrow

when her Dad passed away. Their married gave her much happiness. Then they

moved to their own house in number twenty three. They also were making plans

of the decoration of the house. They used to do a simple activity that usually do

together and that makes her happy, such as follow in the quotation“…he went to

get the papers and I made scrambled eggs, we sat in the kitchen drinking tea, we

went to the pub for a late lunch, we fell asleep, tangled up together in front of the

TV.” (Hawkins 59)

They got a normal life, happiness of their first marriage. Sometimes they

spent weekend by exercising together. “Tom and I used to run together on

Sundays, me going at slightly above my normal pace, him at about half his, just so

we could run side by side.” (Hawkins 19-20)

Rachel also felt lucky to have Tom who loved her and praise her power.


F a u z i a h | 19

“There was a time when I had willpower, when I could run 10kbefore breakfast and subsist for weeks on 1,300 calories a day. Itwas one of the things Tom loved about me, he said: mystubbornness, my strength.” (Hawkins 127)

The quotation shows about things that Tom loved about Rachel. He

praised her ability when she success to reduce her calories. Overall, the discussion

above shows about Rachel’s experience when her first married with Tom. She

enjoyed every moment that they spend together although just two of them. She

was grateful and enough of Tom existence in her life.

3.1.1.2 Imaginative

Imaginative means having or showing imagination. According to Gordon

imagination is discussed as if it were mainly an imitative activity, a copying or

making images of real object (194). Rachel had a creative mind. She liked to

imagine something unusual which happened since she was little. It shows in the

quotation below:

“My mother used to tell me that I had an overactive imagination; Tom saidthat too. I can’t help it; I catch sight of these discarded scraps, a dirty T-shirt or a lonesome shoe, and all I can think of is the other shoe, and thefeet that fitted into them.” (Hawkins 15)

The quotation proved that Rachel’s imagination is affirmed by her mother

and husband. She imagined about dirty shoes and feet that fitted to them.

Since Rachel had been separated from Tom, she had a nasty life. She lost

her job and often did something useless. She travelled from Ashbury to London

for unclear purpose every day. She pretended to go to work as usual. She hid the

fact from her flat mate that she was fired.‘My flat mate doesn’t know that I’ve lost


F a u z i a h | 20

my job. So I go into London, as usual, and I go to libraries, to job hunt, to work on

my CV.’ (Hawkins 118)

During her trip, she often watched things outside the trains then she

correlated object with something she had in her mind. For example in the

quotation below:

“There is a pile of clothing on the side of the train tracks… It’sprobably rubbish, part of a load fly-tipped into the scrubby littlewood up the bank… Or it could be something else. My motherused to tell me that I had an overactive imagination; Tom said thattoo.” (Hawkins15)

The quotation above shows how Rachel relates the object that she saw

outside the train. For example when she saw a pile of clothes on the side tracks,

she was thinking of something weird. She thought that those clothes belong to

train engineers who worked on this part of train track, or belonged to people who

had accident by train. It shows in the quotation below:

“The pile of clothes from last week is still there, and it looksdustier and more forlorn than it did a few days ago. I readsomewhere that a train can rip the clothes right off you when ithits. It’s not that unusual, death by train. Two to three hundreda year, they say, so at least one every couple of days. I’m not surehow many of those are accidental. I look carefully, as the train rollsslowly past, for blood on the clothes, but I can’t see any.”(Hawkins 21)

The quotation shows that Rachel thought about accident when she was pile

of clothes. In fact, there was no blood at all in the pile of clothes beside the train

tracks. It was weird because it was impossible that the train engineers would leave

their clothes there. Another quotation which shows that Rachel had imaginative

character is when she rode a train during her journey to Euston she liked to notice

people outside the train then name them as she liked.


F a u z i a h | 21

“I don’t know their names either, so I had to name them myself.Jason, because he’s handsome in a British film star kind of way,not a Deep or a Pitt, but a Firth, or a Jason Isaacs. And Jess justgoes with Jason, and it goes with her. It fits her, pretty and carefreeas she is.” (Hawkins 26)

The quotation above shows that Rachel gave their names as she wanted to.

For example when her train passed the neighborhood she used to lived in. She

identified a house where her neighbor couple lives. She named them Jason and

Jess based on physical appearances in her opinion. She argued that Jason is

handsome and Jess is beautiful. While in real they were Megan and Scott. Rachel

also imagine about job that suitable with them.

“He’s a doctor, I think, probably for one of those overseas organizations.He’s constantly on call, a bag packed on top of the wardrobe; there’s anearthquake in Iran or a tsunami in Asia and he drops everything, he grabshis bag and he’s at Heathrow within a matter of hours, ready to fly out andsave lives.”“Jess, with her bold prints and her Converse trainers and her beauty, herattitude, works in the fashion industry. Or perhaps in the music business,or in advertising – she might be a stylist or a photographer. She’s a goodpainter, too, plenty of artistic flair. I can see her now, in the spare roomupstairs, music blaring, window open, a brush in her hand, an enormouscanvas leaning against the wall.” (Hawkins 25)

The quotation above shows that Rachel imagined job that suitable with the

couple. She imagined Jason as a doctor who was ready when disaster occurred.

While she also imagined Jess as stylist or a photographer.

The discussion above explains that Rachel had an imaginative character

while she rode the train. She imagined things she saw such as a pile of clothes in

the side of train tracks as the clothes belong to person who was hit by a train

though she did not find any blood at all. She also imagined about the couple


F a u z i a h | 22

names that she did not know by naming them. It means Rachel is wildly

imaginative.

3.1.1.3 Obsessive

Obsessive means a persistent thought lingering in our minds. It refers to a

strong desire. (Yang 13). Rachel is obsessed with two things. First with her ex-

husband and second with the couple that Rachel always noticed outside the train.

Rachel is obsessed with his husband because she still loved him. Rachel also

thought a lot about the couple she saw outside the train because she portrayed

them as Tom and herself in the past, before they divorced. It is proved in the

following discussion.

In The Girl on the Train novel, Rachel showed that she was obsessive

person. It can be seen below:

“There’s no one I want to talk to except for Tom. The call log on myphone says I rang four times: at 11.02, 11.12, 11.54, 12.09. Judging fromthe length of the calls, I left two messages… I remember leaving the firstmessage; I think I just asked him to call me. That may be what I said inboth of them, which isn’t too bad.” (Hawkins 29)

Rachel only wanted to talk to her ex-husband, Tom. She tried to keep in

touch with him although she knew that Tom already had a new wife. The

quotation in the novel that shows Rachel obsession to her ex-husband is:“I

remember now, I was crying. I told him that I still loved him, that I always would.

Please, Tom, please, I need to talk to you. I miss you.” (Hawkins 30)

Rachel still loved Tom although they are divorced. She was never sincere

to let Tom go. Rachel rang Tom continuously when she was drunk because she

still wanted to be with him but he already had a wife.


F a u z i a h | 23

Beside her husband, Rachel was also fascinated with a couple that she

noticed outside the train. “I suppose I started noticing them about a year ago, and

gradually, as the months went past, they became important to me. (Hawkins 26).

Rachel got a messed life since her separation with Tom. Rachel observed the

couple who lived in a neighborhood besides the train tracks everyday in her

journey. She had observed the couple since a year ago. Another quotation that

shows Rachel’s obsession to the couple is:

“I can’t believe it. I snatch air into my lungs, I realize that I’ve beenholding my breath. Why would she do that? Jason loves her, I can see it,they’re happy. I can’t believe she would do that to him, he doesn’t deservethat. I feel a real sense of disappointment, I feel as though I have beencheated. (Hawkins 49)

Feeling is emotional state of someone when they experience sense of

something. The quotation above refers to Rachel’s feeling while she saw Jess was

kissing with another man while she rode the train. She was so disappointed to

watch the view. She felt the pain of betrayal because she was cheated by Tom.

She became more curious of them.“I want to be closer, I can’t see. I want to be

closer to them.” (Hawkins 60)

Rachel wanted to see the couple from the train but she could not see them

clearly. She wanted to see and get closer with them because she wanted to know

their condition. Then she decided to walk around their neighborhood although she

knew that was not good idea because the couple was in the same complex with

Tom and Anna. She was afraid of being caught by them.

Rachel looked the couple when she passed the house while rode the train.

Sometimes she only could see one of them, if she could not see both of them, she


F a u z i a h | 24

would so upset, as shown in this quotation: “I can’t see Jason and Jess this

morning, and my sense of disappointment is acute. Silly, I know. I scrutinize the

house, but there’s nothing to see.” (Hawkins 25)

Another quotation that proofs Rachel obsessive is perspectives toward the

couple. She argued that they were a happy couple as she and Tom. They are a

happiness that she could not have now because she had divorced with Tom.

“They’re a match, they’re a set. They’re happy, I can tell. They’re what I used to

be, they’re Tom and me, five years ago. They’re what I lost; they’re everything I

want to be.” (Hawkins 26)

The discussion above explains that Rachel’s obsession referred to her ex-

husband and the couple outside the train that she named as Jason and Jess. She

still loved Tom and wanted to be with him again. While her over attention to the

couple because she saw them as perfect couple that she dreamed of and portrayed

them as Tom and her in the past.

3.1.1.4 Jealous

Jealous refers to emotional experience. According to Stephanie and

Francesco, jealous is a frequent human emotional although its nature, rationale

and origin are poorly understood (1). It is a common feeling that happens to

people such as when they saw someone that they loved closer to other people.

Since Rachel divorced with Tom, she lived with her friend named Cathy.

While Tom has been married to Anna and they stayed in Tom’s house. This is a

house that Rachel and Tom bought when they still married. It shows in the

quotation below:


F a u z i a h | 25

I can’t bear to look at it… Every day I tell myself not to look, and everyday I look. I can’t help myself,… even though anything I do see will hurtme. Even though I remember so clearly how it felt that time I looked upand noticed that the cream linen blind in the upstairs bedroom was gone,replaced by something in soft baby pink; even though I still remember thepain I felt when I saw Anna watering the rose bushes near the fence, her T-shirt stretched tight over her bulging belly, and I bit my lip so hard itbled. (Hawkins 22)

The quotation shows how hard Rachel restrained herself not to look the

house number twenty-three which she passed everyday when she did her journey

to London. Rachel was jealous when she looked at that house because it has been

occupied by other woman with her ex-husband.

Rachel still loved Tom but he already married with Anna and they also

had a child named Evie. Their happiness made Rachel feel unhappy. It shows in

the data: “Something Tom once said tipped me over sent me sliding… Something

he wrote, rather: I read it on Facebook that morning…‘So this is what all the

fuss is about! Never knew love like this! Happiest day of my life!’(Hawkins 113)

The quotation is explained about Rachel’s feel when she saw Tom’s post

in Facebook. It tells that he was happy with his now born baby. That caused

Rachel angry because she was jealous of their happiness that she could not get.

Tom has been happy with his new family whereas Rachel faced a messed life

since they were broke up. That feeling which provided Rachel to did something

risky. It can be seen in the quotation below:

That day last summer, when I went to Tom and Anna’s … I’m still notsure what I intended. I did go down the pathway and over the fence. It wasquiet, I couldn’t hear anything. I went up to the sliding doors and lookedin. It’s true that Anna was sleeping on the sofa. I didn’t call out, to her orto Tom. I didn’t want to wake her. The baby wasn’t crying, she was fastasleep in her carrycot, at her mother’s side. I picked her up and took her


F a u z i a h | 26

outside, as quickly as I could. I remember running with her towards thefence, the baby starting to wake and to grizzle a little. I don’t know what Ithought I was doing. I wasn’t going to hurt her. I got to the fence, holdingher tightly against my chest. She was crying properly now, starting toscream. (Hawkins 143)

The quotation above shows that Rachel quietly came to Tom and Anna’s

house. She did not sure what she wants exactly. She only took the baby and

brought her outside. Overall, the description above shows that Rachel got jealousy

of Tom and Anna’s marriage, moreover they had a baby. That jealousy feeling

that leads her to kidnapping to their house and took the baby.

3.1.1.5 Insecure

As stated in GoodTherapy.org, insecure refers a people who often

experience a lack of confidence. It causes negative thoughts about one’s ability to

fit in with peers, reach goals, or acceptance and support. This thing happened to

Rachel. She became a woman who could not have a child and it caused her

insecurity. It shows in the quotation “…let’s be honest: women are still only really

valued for two things – their looks and their role as mothers. I’m not beautiful,

and I can’t have kids, so what does that make me? Worthless.” (Hawkins 112)

The quotation explains that Rachel thought her deficiency made her as

useless woman. According to her the woman would be special with beautiful face

and her ability to have child, while she did not have that. So that thing showed

Rachel insecurity. Another quotation that shows Rachel’s insecurity is “I am not

the girl I used to be. I am no longer desirable; I’m off-putting in some way.”

(Hawkins 27)


F a u z i a h | 27

The quotation above shows that Rachel did not has confidence with her

look because the change of herself. She felt that she was not an attractive woman

anymore because of her weight gain or her puffy face from the drinking and lack

of sleep. Since Rachel knew that she could not have a baby, she released her sad

with drinking alcohol.

Rachel’s marriage did not stay longer. They are divorced and Rachel

blamed herself. “I was wrong to suggest that we should share the blame; it was all

down to me.” (Hawkins 111). It shows in quotation as follows:

“Maybe that was the moment when things started to go wrong… when Iimagined us no longer a couple, but a family;…Was it then that Tomstarted to look at me differently,… After all he gave up for me, for the twoof us to be together, I let him think that he wasn’t enough.” (Hawkins.77)

The quotation shows that Rachel was guilty because she wanted a child

whereas Tom had different perspectives about that. He said that without have a

child they were happy. Rachel thought that because they different perspectives

and her big desire made Tom gave up on her.

As explain above, Rachel’s insecurity is caused because she could not

have a child and the change of her appearance because of drinking alcohol. She

felt useless as a woman because she had not beautiful face and did not has an

ability to have a child.

3.1.1.6 Depression

Depression is an extreme sadness. Depression is an episodic illness.

Episodes can last for weeks or months or years, and are interspersed with more or


F a u z i a h | 28

less symptom-free periods (DePaulo 10). It interferes with the activities of daily

life and can even cause physical pain.

Rachel and Tom did not have child because Rachel could not pregnant.

They already checked up to the doctor and did an IVF (In Vitro Fertilization)

method to had child but it was not successful. Since that time, to having child

became a common topic that was asked to her.

“At some point our childlessness became an acceptable topic of Sunday-lunch conversation, not just between Tom and me, but more generally.What we were trying, what we should be doing, do you really think youshould be having a second glass of wine? I was still young, there was stillplenty of time, but failure cloaked me like a mantle, it overwhelmed me,dragged me under and I gave up hope.” (Hawkins 111)

The quotation above shows Rachel was asked by people around her about

when she would have child because some of friends in her age already had

children. She was suppressed by questions of her failure to had children because

Tom had not a big desire as hers in case of having child.

Rachel stressed. She became lonely and started drinking to wreak her

depression. “I can’t blame all this for my drinking – I can’t blame my parents or

my childhood, an abusive uncle or some terrible tragedy. It’s my fault. I was a

drinker anyway – I’ve always liked to drink. But I did become sadder, and sadness

gets boring after a while, for the sad person and for everyone around them. And

then I went from being a drinker to being a drunk, and there’s nothing more

boring than that.” (Hawkins 113). Since then she often blame herself, drunk has

became her habit and made her more suffer. That also made her lonelier because

no one wants to be near with a drunker.


F a u z i a h | 29

3.1.1.7 Slovenly

Slovenly refer to someone who untidy, dirty and messy. (Cambridge

English Dictionary).Rachel got a messed life since she broken up with Tom. She

lived in her friend’s flat named Cathy. She ought to keep her attitude while living

in other people house but she made a chaos there. She became an untidy woman

and careless. It is shown in the quotation below:

“I sliced through the top of my finger while chopping the onions. I musthave gone to the bathroom to clean it up and gone to lie down for a whileand just forgotten all about the kitchen…There was blood on the choppingboard, the room smelled of raw meat, the steak was still sitting out on thecounter top, turning grey. (Hawkins 28)

The quotation above tells that Rachel cooked a meal by herself but

unfortunately her finger was cut by the knife. She let the kitchen messed. She was

laid on her bed after she washed her sliced finger. Properly she need to clean up

the kitchen after washing her injured finger because she did not live in her own

house so she should keep the house clean. She should be able to keep her behavior

in someone else’s house.

Another proof that shows Rachel was slovenly can be seen in the quotation

below:

“My handbag has been dumped in the hallway, just inside the front door.My jeans and underwear sit next to it in a crumpled pile; I can smell theurine from the bottom of the stairs… I can taste the bile in the back of mythroat and I run, but I don’t make it to the bathroom, I vomit on the carpethalfway up the stairs. (p.63)

Rachel drunken habit makes much bad impact to her such as she

unconscious of something that she did before then causes a mess condition.

Beside that drunken habit, the other data that shows Rachel was messy is:


F a u z i a h | 30

“Friday, 26 July 2013MorningI am no longer travelling to my imaginary office. I have given up thepretence. I can barely be bothered to get out of bed. I think I last brushedmy teeth on Wednesday. I am still feigning illness, although I’m prettysure I’m fooling no one.” (Hawkins 197)

The quotation shows when Rachel did not go anywhere she did not clean

up herself. In the quotation she told that she did not brush her teeth on Wednesday

while in the novel that moment was Friday.

The explanation above proved that Rachel was slovenly after she got

depressed and divorced with Tom. She often did carelessness thing such as let the

kitchen in dirty, or she drank habit that makes Cathy’s house disarray, moreover

Rachel seldom to cleans herself. It can be concluded that Rachel had grateful and

imaginative then the problems lead the changed of her characterization become

obsessive, depressed and slovenly.

3.1.2 Anna’s Characterization

Anna is a woman character in The Girl on the Train novel. Anna whose

Tom’s mistress. She had an affair with Tom while he was still married to Rachel.

Then after his divorce with Rachel, Anna married to Tom. The data that have been

collected on Anna’s characterization shows that Anna is:

3.1.2.1 Selfish

Selfish means act in a manner for your own benefit at a disadvantage to

others. (https://psychologydictionary.org/selfishness/ ). It is portrayed in Anna’s

characterization. Anna has never felt guilty for breaking Tom and Rachel

relationship. She felt that she already did a right thing. It is shown in the quotation

below:


F a u z i a h | 31

“Everyone told me I was insane to agree to move into Tom’s house. Butthen everyone thought I was insane to get involved with a married man, letalone a married man whose wife was highly unstable and I’ve provedthem wrong on that one.” (Hawkins 150)

After she married to Tom, she lived in Tom’s house where he lived with

Rachel in the past. Anna ignored what people said about her as a mistress. She felt

that she was right because she saved Tom from Rachel because she was unstable

woman.

Another proof of Anna’s selfish character is showed when enjoyed her

character as mistress while Tom still Rachel’s husband and be a wife since Tom

divorced Rachel then married to Anna. She pleasured to do that because she loved

Tom. She did not care what Rachel felt because according to Anna, Rachel only

made Tom’s suffer. “I enjoyed it. I loved it, in fact. I never felt guilty. I pretended

I did.”(Hawkins 302)

The discussion above explains that Anna was selfish character. She was

ignoring Rachel’s feeling when she had affair with Tom until she became his

wife. She never felt guilty of wresting Tom from Rachel. She felt that she already

did a right thing.

3.1.2.2 Grateful

Grateful refers to a thankful feeling. Anna loved her family so much. Anna

got a daughter from her marriage with Tom. She named her Evie. She always felt

thankful to have them. It is shown in quotation below:

“When I look at Tom, I thank God that he found me, too, that I was thereto rescue him from that woman. She’d have driven him mad in the end, Ireally think that – she’d have ground him down, she’d have made him intosomething he’s not.” (Hawkins 152)


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The quotation above shows that Anna felt very lucky to have Tom who

treated her well. She also felt that she saved him from a suffer life with Rachel

and live better with her. “Tom’s taken Evie upstairs to give her a bath. I can hear

her squealing with delight from here and I’m smiling again – the smile has barely

fallen from my lips all day.” (Hawkins 152)

Anna was very happy to have Tom who loved their child. He also was

willing to take care of daughter. That thing made Anna love them more and more

because of them her life became so beautiful.

“Tom walks a little way ahead of me, pushing the buggy; he’s singingsomething to Evie, making her laugh. I love it when we’re out like this, thethree of us. I can see the way people look at us; I can see them thinking,what a beautiful family. It makes me proud – prouder than I’ve ever beenof anything in my life.” (Hawkins 186-187)

From the quotation above Anna told that she was proud because she had

Tom as husband who loved her and cared of their daughter. Anna was proud to

have a perfect little family that makes her life complete. Another data that shows

Anna loved their family very much. She said “No matter how much trouble she

causes, Tom and Evie are worth it.” (Hawkins 150)

The only one obstacle for Anna is Rachel, because she still disturbed Tom

and that made her angry. Rachel ever came to her house and took Evie out without

Anna realized it. That made Anna paranoid if she came around to her house. The

discussion has explained that Anna described as a grateful woman who felt lucky

and proud of her family.


F a u z i a h | 33

3.1.2.3 Suspicious

According to Aaron Ben-Zeév Ph.D., suspicious is a kind of self-fulfilling

prophecy. The initial seeds of doubts about the partner's fidelity give rise to a

larger scope of doubts and uncertainties. For example in Anna case, she trusts her

husband but then he lies to her. It makes Anna suspicious to him because her

husband can repeat it again.

Anna loved her family very much. She trusted Tom and praised him as a

good husband. The only one problem in her marriage was about Rachel. She

stayed around her family and tended to ring Tom because Rachel still loved Tom

a lot. Anna was so disturbed with her action. One day she had a fight with Tom

because she still saw Rachel around her house even though Tom said that he

already talked to Rachel to stay away. But things that made Anna anger because

Tom talked to Rachel by met her directly not called her by phone.

“It wipes the smile off my face, though, thinking about thoseconversations. Thinking about Tom laughing conspiratorially, while hetraced his fingers lower over my belly, smiling up at me, saying, ‘I’m agood liar.’ He is a good liar, a natural.” (Hawkins 310)

The quotation above shows about Anna’s thought that Tom was a good

liar such as he lied about his met with Rachel. That feeling led her to be

suspicious. She thought about all Tom said. She was wondering the truth of it.

Then she started did something that she never thought.

“And then I do the things I never thought I would. I grab the bottleof red which we opened last night with dinner and I pour myself aglass. Then I fetch his laptop, power it up and start trying to guessthe password.” (Hawkins 313)


F a u z i a h | 34

Because of her suspicious, she tried to check Tom’s laptop and guessed

the password. She trusted Tom but after the incident that he lied to her, she

thought that was fair to check it. Tom caught up that Anna had suspected him by

checking his mails. Anna cried and Tom was upset then left home. He said that he

would go to gym for couple hours. Unfortunately she found Tom’s gym bag under

the bed. She opened it and checked what inside.

“I sit down on the bed, the phone in my hand, my heart hammering. I’mgoing to turn it on, there’s no way I’ll be able to resist, and yet I’m surethat when I do, I’ll regret it, because this can only mean something bad.You don’t keep spare mobile phones tucked away in gym bags unlessyou’re hiding something.”(Hawkins 341)

The quotation above shows that Anna checked the bag and she found a

phone that she never saw before. The phone made her sure that Tom was hiding

something from her.

The explanations above proved that Anna got a suspicious character after

she found Tom lied to her. She started to check his stuff such as laptop and bag.

Then her suspicious led her to know that Tom really hide something behind her.

Overall the discussion above shows that Anna had a selfish character

because enjoyed her part as mistress while Tom still married to Rachel. She

ignored Rachel’s feel and thought that she already did a right thing. Anna also has

a characterization of loving person. She loved her family so much. But then her

characterization became suspicious since she caught up Tom had lied to her.


F a u z i a h | 35

3.1.3 Megan’s Characterization

Megan is woman character in The Girl on the Train novel. She lived in the

house number fifteen on Blenheim road with her husband named Scott. The writer

has found some data that shows Megan’s characterization below:

3.1.3.1 Unfaithful

According to Janis and Michael, unfaithful partner means the one who had

affair. It means that someone who betrays their partner. This characterization

shows by Megan. She betrayed her husband by having affair with Tom who is her

neighbor and Anna’s husband, Tom.

Megan and Tom lived in the same road. Their house was four doors away

so they could know each other. Everything started when Tom often visited

Megan’s gallery and he flirted to her. The data below proved that Megan affair.

“When we started all this, it was just a game. A distraction. I used to seehim from time to time… The way he looked at me, I could see exactlywhat was going through his mind and so it just happened. And then ithappened again, and I never meant for it to go anywhere, I didn’t want itto go anywhere. I just enjoyed feeling wanted; I liked the feeling ofcontrol. It was as simple and stupid as that. I didn’t want him to leave hiswife; I just wanted him to want to leave her. To want me that much.”(Hawkins 370-371)

The quotation above explains that Megan and Tom affair was just a

distraction at first. Then Megan comfortable with Tom and it continued until she

wanted Tom to leave her wife and only stared at her.

Another proof that showed Megan’s affair stated in this following

quotation: “I met him at the Swan in Corly, he’d got us a room. We have to be

careful, we can’t get caught. It would be bad for him, life-wrecking. It would be a

disaster for me, too.” (Hawkins 72)


F a u z i a h | 36

The quotation above shows that Megan and Tom affairs continuously

happened. Megan met Tom in the hotel to avoid being caught by their partner.

That made Megan desire to have Tom bigger. She would not let Tom leave her.

Not only with Tom, Megan is also seduced her therapist, Kamal. Megan

had a mental disorder because of her bad experiences in the past. It caused her to

meet a therapist.

“When the session ended, I asked him if he wanted to have a drink withme. He said no, he couldn’t, it wouldn’t be appropriate. So I followed himhome. He lives in a flat just down the road from the practice. I knocked onhis door, and when he opened it, I asked, ‘Is this appropriate?’ I slippedmy hand around the back of his neck, stood on tiptoe and kissed him onthe mouth.” (Hawkins 88)

The quotation above shows that Megan is seduced Kamal. Though, he

rejects her invitation to drink, she does not give up persuading him until she

follows him to home. Another data that shows Megan’s effort to seduced Kamal

is: “I moved closer to him, put my hands on his hips and turned him around. He

took hold of my arms again, his long fingers locked around my wrists. ‘I could

lose my job,’ he said, and then I really lost my temper. (Hawkins 182)

The quotation above proofs that Megan still tried to seduced him in the

next session of her therapy. But again, Kamal rejected it because he would be

professional in her job as therapist. So, Megan’s unfaithful can be seen from her

affair with Tom and her struggle to seduce Kamal.

3.1.3.2 Honest

Honesty refers to factual truthfulness and interpersonal sincerity.

Authenticity refers to emotional genuineness and also psychological depth.


F a u z i a h | 37

Integrity refers to moral probity and self-unity; in terms of moral character, it

seems the most generic of these terms (Peterson & Seligman 249-250). Megan

never told Scott about her past. Scott knew that she had mental disorder but not

the reason. So Megan could only tell the story to her therapist, Kamal.

“I need to get to the end of the story. I need to tell someone, just once.Say the words out loud. If it doesn’t come out of me, it’ll eat me up. Thehole inside me, the one they left, it’ll just get bigger and bigger until itconsumes me.”“I’m going to have to swallow my pride and my shame and go to him.He’s going to have to listen. I’ll make him.” (Hawkins 218)

Megan tried to persuade Kamal to listen her stories. Because since she

seduced Kamal, he did not want to be as her therapist anymore. But finally Kamal

wanted to help her to hear the story as a friend not a therapist.

‘I can’t tell you what to do about Scott. Your relationship with him …Well, I’ve expressed my concerns, but you have to decide what to do foryourself. Decide whether you trust him, whether you want him to take careof you and your child. That must be your decision. But I think you cantrust yourself, Megan. You can trust yourself to do the right thing.’(Hawkins 364)

In the quotation above shows that Kamal suggested Megan to confess her

fault to Scott. She needed to trust herself that she could do the right thing and be a

right person. Then she convinced herself to be brave.

From Megan got pregnant from her affair with Tom. In the past she ever

had a baby from her lover, Mac. But the baby was dead because of her careless.

That caused Megan was afraid to have a baby anymore. Now it different, she did

not want to hurt her. It shows in the quotation below:

I can feel her, the way I could before, curled up, a seed within a pod, onlythis seed’s smiling. Biding her time. I can’t hate her. And I can’t get rid ofher. I can’t. I thought I would be able to, I thought I would be desperate toscrape her out, but when I think about her, all I can see is Libby’s face, her


F a u z i a h | 38

dark eyes. I can smell her skin. I can feel how cold she was at the end. Ican’t get rid of her. I don’t want to. I want to love her. (Hawkins 361)

The quotation shows that Megan could not bear to hurt the baby after she

remembered of her baby who dead before named Libby. She did not want to hurt

the baby as Libby first. That condition encourages her to admit her fault to Scott

and started to do a right thing. As shows in the quotation below:

It’s going to be hard. It might be the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, butI’m going to tell the truth. No more lies, no more hiding, no more running,no more bullshit. I’m going to put everything out in the open, and thenwe’ll see. If he can’t love me then, so be it. (Hawkins 365)

Megan started to tell Scott about the truth of everything that she did. She

surrendered if he could not love her again. ‘There was … it’s finished now, but

there was … someone else.’ I kept my eyes lowered, I couldn’t look at him.

(Hawkins 368)

Sadly Scott was angry. He hurt her. He did not want to listen all Megan’s

admit. Then Megan decided to leave home and met Tom to ask his responsibility.

But poorly Tom did not want to do it. He asked her to do an abortion but Megan

did want to. Tom angry and finally he killed her.

From the discussion above Megan portrayed as unfaithful partner then the

characterization changed because she got pregnant and realized to do a right thing

to confess her fault.

3.2 Psychodynamic

Psychodynamics means the view that emphasizes and examines

development, change and interaction of mental and emotional, conscious and

unconscious forces giving rise to a specific psychological state or psychological


F a u z i a h | 39

event. For example attitudes, actions, symptoms or mental disorders

(https://psychologydictionary.org/psychodynamics/).It refers to the change of

human behavior because of conflict and experiences that they face.

3.2.1 Rachel

Rachel experienced change of her characters based on problems that she

faced. Before she got problems in her marriage, everything was running well. She

was happy since she married to Tom on 2005. They lived happily in their house at

Blenheim road number twenty three. Everything ran well in their first year of

marriage. They spent time their holiday together.

Tangy and cold, the taste of my first ever holiday with Tom, a fishingvillage on the Basque coast in 2005. In the mornings we’d swim the halfmile to the little island in the bay, make love on secret hidden beaches; inthe afternoons we’d sit at a bar drinking strong, bitter gin and tonics,watching swarms of beach footballers playing chaotic 25-a-side games onthe low-tide sands. (Hawkins 17)

From the quotation, Rachel explained about activity that she and Tom did

in their holiday on summer. She appreciated every time that she did with Tom.

They usually did an activity together such as exercise in a Sunday morning. “Tom

and I used to run together on Sundays, me going at slightly above my normal

pace, him at about half his, just so we could run side by side.” (Hawkins 19-20)

Rachel was grateful to have Tom because he saved her from the grief of

her father’s dead. “Not when I met Tom, who saved me from grief, after Dad died.

Not when we married, carefree, drenched in bliss, on an oddly wintry May day

seven years ago. I was happy, solvent, successful.” (Hawkins 77)

Then, the problem came. Rachel and Tom did not have any children from

their marriage after two years. Rachel never got a miscarriage; she just could not


F a u z i a h | 40

get pregnant. “No doctor has been able to explain to me why I can’t get

pregnant…I didn’t suffer the agony of miscarriage, I just didn’t get pregnant.”

(Hawkins 110-111)

Rachel had checked up to the doctor about why she could not get pregnant

but poorly the doctor could not find the reason. She never endured the miscarriage

because she never felt to be pregnant. She also tried a method for having a child

but it was not success. As shown in the quotation; “We did one round of IVF,

which was all we could afford… it would be, unpleasant and unsuccessful.”

(Hawkins 111)

As stated in Medical encyclopedia, IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) is a process

of the joining of woman's egg and a man's sperm in a laboratory dish. It means

that the process of sperm which attaches the egg is happen outside the body.

Rachel and Tom had tried an IVF method to have a baby but it was not success.

After she got the problem, Rachel’s character started to change. Rachel

condition made her became insecure woman. As a woman, Rachel felt imperfect

without having a child. She was insecure with her condition. She felt useless as a

wife. She said “…let’s be honest: women are still only really valued for two

things – their looks and their role as mothers. I’m not beautiful, and I can’t have

kids, so what does that make me? Worthless.” (Hawkins 112)

Rachel was down in the dumps. She was frustrated with people around

her. She felt that it was not fair because she could not be like them.

“My friends were having children, friends of friends were havingchildren, pregnancy and birth and first birthday parties wereeverywhere. I was asked about it, all the time. My mother, our friends,colleagues at work. When was it going to be my turn?” (Hawkins 111)


F a u z i a h | 41

The quotation shows that Rachel asked by many people around her about

when she would get a child. That thing makes her oppressed. She started blaming

herself. She was the one who missed the baby came. Tom was not. Rachel could

not share the problem with Tom because he had another perspective about having

a child. As shows in the data below:

“Tom didn’t feel the way I did… He wanted to be a dad, he really did…But he thought our lives could be great without children, too. We’rehappy; he used to say to me, why can’t we just go on being happy? Hebecame frustrated with me. He never understood that it’s possible to misswhat you’ve never had, to mourn for it.”(Hawkins 112)

The quotation shows that Rachel desire to have child but Tom said that

they could be happy without having a child. Rachel started depressed. She felt that

Tom did not understand her. As a husband he should be patient to face up Rachel

and her depression.“I felt isolated in my misery. I became lonely, so I drank a bit,

and then a bit more, and then I became lonelier, because no one likes being

around a drunk.” (Hawkins 112)

The quotation explains that Rachel suffered because she could not get a

child, then she felt isolated by people around her because of her condition. She

became a drunker because she felt lonely. Rachel felt the burden of her own. She

became constantly blamed herself.

After their IVF was failed, Rachel wanted to try it again but Tom said that

they did not have enough money. She did not force Tom to obey her desire to do

IVF once more. She only expressed her wish so they could save the money to do

the method again.


F a u z i a h | 42

“It was a couple of months after we’d found out that the IVF had failedthat he told me about the trip, Vegas, for four nights, to watch the big fightand let off some steam. Just him and a couple of his mates from the olddays, people I had never met. It cost a fortune, I know, because I saw thebooking receipt for the flight and the room in his email inbox. I’ve no ideawhat the boxing tickets cost, but I can’t imagine they were cheap. It wasn’tenough to pay for a round of IVF, but it would have been a start. We had ahorrible fight about it. I don’t remember the details because I’d beendrinking all afternoon, working myself up to confront him about it, sowhen I did it was in the worst possible way.” (Hawkins 253)

The quotation above shows Rachel’s disappointed because Tom had spent

his money to go to Vegas with his friends. Whereas she wanted they could be

thrifty and started save some money to do the second IVF.

One day Rachel had a plan to celebrate their fourth anniversary. She

checked Tom’s computer to look up his schedule. Unfortunately after she closed

the windows and the calendar, Tom’s email account was logged in and wide-open.

“There was a message at the top from [email protected] …until Irealized that they were kisses. It was a reply to a message …I fell asleeplast night thinking of you, I was dreaming about kissing your mouth,your breasts, the inside of your thighs. I woke this morning with my headfull of you, desperate to touch you. Don’t expect me to be sane, I can’t be,not with you.” (Hawkins 50-51)

Rachel found an email from a woman named Anna Boyd who sent a

romantic message to her husband and proofed that they were have a romantic

relationship behind her. Rachel was hurt, and then she gained more suffers when

she and Tom divorced. Rachel still loved Tom but they could not be together

because Tom decided to marry Anna after that. From the time when Rachel broke

up with Tom she lived in Cathy’s flat. Cathy was her friend in university but they

were never that close. They never even met after graduation. Cathy offered a help

when she needed it. Cathy had an empty room in her flat and Rachel decided to


F a u z i a h | 43

accept the help. Rachel planned

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